Reborn to outshine My Ex and His White Moonlight
Chapter 226: By What Identity Do You Command Me?

Chapter 226: Chapter 226: By What Identity Do You Command Me?

After using the restroom, Lin Zhiyi didn’t immediately return to the private room.

She always felt out of place with the atmosphere inside.

Especially since Old Mr. Gong kept giving her meaningful looks, seemingly urging her to leave.

Lin Zhiyi walked toward the rest area on the other end of the corridor.

She opened the glass door, and the cold wind hit her face. She shrank her neck, wrapped her arms around herself, and leaned against the railing to gaze at the distant scenery.

Once her emotions settled, Lin Zhiyi thought of her unfinished duties and prepared to head back to the private room.

As she turned around, she bumped into a man’s cold, hard chest.

Lifting her eyelids slightly, she met his icy gaze, feeling a cold air fill her chest that made her teeth chatter.

Lin Zhiyi took a step back and attempted to look steady, "Third Young Master, what do you want?"

Gong Chen didn’t answer right away but instead closed in on her with every step until she was backed up against the railing, with no place to retreat.

He propped an arm up, caging her in front of him, his dark eyes flickering with a cold glint.

When he spoke, his voice was laced with mockery, "Wearing the clothes I bought for you, attending banquets with other men. Lin Zhiyi, you’re really something."

"How much? I’ll pay you in cash," Lin Zhiyi replied.

Gong Chen smirked, his eyes shining coldly, "Pay in cash? No need for that trouble, I’ll collect principal and interest together."

Lin Zhiyi’s heart tightened, and she instinctively raised her hand to block his approach but was still pulled tightly into his embrace.

"This is the principal!" Gong Chen said fiercely.

"What..."

Lin Zhiyi didn’t finish her sentence before he kissed her forcefully.

Gong Chen yanked open the belt of her coat, his hand slipping through her clothes, gripping her waist where Sang Li had supported her, and kneaded it ruthlessly.

As if trying to break her in half.

Lin Zhiyi’s cheeks were tightly furrowed, and it really hurt.

Just when she was getting short of breath, Gong Chen backed away slightly from her lips.

"Stay away from him."

Lin Zhiyi looked up at the man’s deep features, her lips somewhat numb.

He wasn’t actually concerned about her relationship with Sang Li.

It was just that he was a dangerous and dominating man by nature.

His woman, even if discarded, wouldn’t be anyone else’s to touch.

That was all.

Because the woman he truly cared about had the right to stand by his side, openly beside him and his family.

She had just begun to let go of everything when he would always suddenly appear to haunt her and then vanish just as quickly.

Lin Zhiyi let out a light laugh, "Third Young Master, it’s not every day I meet a man willing to stand by my side, right?"

"Lin Zhiyi!"

Gong Chen’s entire body radiated a chilling aura, seemingly ready to devour her.

She didn’t yield or retreat but said coldly, "By what right do you command me? As my uncle? A one-night stand? Or as a man whose relationship with me isn’t clear-cut?"

"Lin Zhiyi, I’m being serious with you. He is not as simple as you think," Gong Chen warned.

Lin Zhiyi heard his attempt to change the subject, but she still couldn’t resist a self-mocking laugh.

"Are you simple? At least he wouldn’t make me feel embarrassed."

A cold look flitted through Gong Chen’s eyes as he pinched her chin, "Don’t overthink it."

Her resistance was just a drop in the ocean.

Her defiance always appeared so insignificant in his eyes.

Lin Zhiyi struggled hard, feeling that she needed an outlet or she would really suffocate from the repression.

She said angrily, "Why does what you say go? Do you enjoy controlling me that much? Then let’s go to the private room and tell them what you’ve done to me!"

"You think he’s given you a taste of freedom, and that’s what freedom is? You want to be with him? I’m telling you, it’s not happening!"

"I’m telling you, I don’t care a bit about what you say!"

Lin Zhiyi was like a wild horse that broke free and didn’t want to be tied down by Gong Chen anymore.

Hearing this, Gong Chen’s pupils suddenly constricted, "You still owe me interest."

He grabbed her chin and kissed her madly.

During his secret competition with Sang Li, he had seen through Sang Li’s intentions.

The man’s possessiveness was eager to surface in Sang Li’s expression.

Lin Zhiyi was normally no match for Gong Chen, let alone when the man was angry.

The force pinning her against the railing felt so strong that the railing itself seemed to vibrate.

That was until Sang Ran’s voice came from around the corner of the corridor.

"Third Young Master? Where are you? It’s so hard to find my way around here; it’s all twists and turns."

Almost at the same time, Gong Chen instantly let go of Lin Zhiyi.

Lin Zhiyi’s face immediately turned pale beneath her disheveled hair as she struggled to hold back the nausea in her stomach and reached out to grab Gong Chen’s lapels.

She even managed a pained smile: "What’s the matter? Don’t have the courage? Scared she’ll find out, Uncle?"

Gong Chen glanced at her, his gaze softening slightly.

"After she returned to the country, she hasn’t been able to adapt well to the climate here, she can’t handle shock. Wait for me here after the banquet ends, and we’ll talk then."

"It’s either now or... there’s nothing else worth discussing."

Lin Zhiyi persisted, tightening her grip on his shirt.

The footsteps in the hallway drew closer, and Gong Chen forcibly pulled his hand away from hers.

After slightly straightening his shirt, he turned and opened the door to enter.

Lin Zhiyi stood in the wind, her hair flying wildly, her hands red and stiff in midair.

Suddenly, a laugh emerged on her pale face, a laugh that reddened her eyes.

Since returning from Norway, aside from the nightmares, once she took the medicine prescribed by the doctor, she would dream of the rare tenderness Gong Chen showed at her bedside when she was pregnant again.

He had said, "Let’s go."

But reality struck her hard.

With all the mess and Gong Chen’s current status, why on earth would he leave?

Once she finished laughing, Lin Zhiyi straightened her hair and left as if nothing had happened.

Back in the private room, Sang Ran was whispering something into Gong Chen’s ear, laughing joyfully.

Seeing Lin Zhiyi return, Sang Ran asked with concern, "Zhiyi, why were you gone for so long?"

Suddenly, everyone’s attention turned to her.

She slowly sat down: "I wasn’t feeling well."

She had barely finished speaking when Old Mr. Gong put down his chopsticks with an unexpected look on his face.

"If you’re not feeling well, go back and rest. Why bring it up at the dinner table?"

Lin Zhiyi swept a glance at Gong Chen, who appeared unruffled as if all of this had nothing to do with him.

He was always like this, remaining aloof.

Lin Zhiyi couldn’t be bothered to play the good girl and directly said, "If I don’t answer, will you say I have no manners again? Maybe Old Master would like to respond for me."

"You!" Old Mr. Gong’s eyes flashed with severity, yet his tone was very faint, "In life and in doing things, you must see clearly and not leave yourself without a way out, to avoid being a laughingstock later."

Lin Zhiyi pursed her lips, aware that the Old Master was insinuating she was relying on powerful connections to intimidate others.

Actually, she was simply fed up with the atmosphere.

As she was about to retort, Gong Chen said coldly, "Lin Zhiyi, eat."

Immediately, Lin Zhiyi felt like she couldn’t catch a break, her body aching as though millions of silver needles were grinding over it repeatedly.

At that moment, Sang Ran brought a fruit platter to the Old Master.

"Uncle, try this fruit; the Third Young Master and I find it very tasty."

Old Mr. Gong’s face lit up with a smile: "You’re so thoughtful."

Lin Zhiyi felt bitter inside; she had been thoughtful too.

It’s just that the Old Master didn’t need cheap thoughtfulness.

After Sang Ran said a few words to defuse the awkwardness, the meal drew to a close.

Finally, when it was time to offer toasts, Sang Li stood up and walked over to Gong Chen.

"Third Young Master, care to join me for a cigarette?"

Gong Chen, hearing the underlying meaning in Sang Li’s offer, understood there was something to discuss.

"Mm."

The two men walked to the smoking area where Sang Li offered a cigarette to Gong Chen.

Gong Chen didn’t take it and lit his own cigarette, asking coldly, "What is it?"

Sang Li sheepishly retracted his cigarette and fiddled with the lighter: "I want to talk to you about Xiao Ran."